Materials-handling device



July 30, 1957 '1'. DfMolR a1-AL.

MATERIALS-HANDLING DEVICE 4 Sheetssheet l original Filed May 17, 1952 N ,.mHfH.

T. D. MOIR EIAL MATERIALS-HANDLING DEVICE July 3o, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 17, 1952 July 3o, 1957 T. D. MOIR ETAL MATERIALS-HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed May 17, 1952 FII-5- E 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 '1L-TIE- 15 T. D. MOIR ElfAL 2,801,065

MATERIALS-HANDLING DEVICE July 30, 1957 orignl Filed May 17, 195:2 4 sheets-sheet 4 United States Patent i MATERIALsHANnLING DEVICE Thomas D. Moir, Los Angeles, Calif., and James vC. Skakel, New York, N. Y., assignors to Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Serial No. 288,502, May 17, 1952. This application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,695

6 claims. (ci. 24a-12e) This invention relates to portable devices adapted for use in lift truck operations and which may be generally classified as pallets, and to methods for handling bagged or otherwise packaged material by means of such devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a triangularly shaped hollow sleeve of substantially rigid construction designed to carry loads normally handled by pallets of conventional construction.

The practice of palletizing bags or cartons of commodities has met with considerable approval over the past fifteen years and received impetus during World War ll. Pallets have heretofore consisted mainly of two horizontally disposed flat surfaces normally constructed of wooden planks or sheet steel separated by spacers of convenient length to permit fork handling by lift trucks. Wooden or steel pallets of conventional size normally weigh in excess of l() lbs. Aside from the expense of the materials of construction for such devices, they occupy more than a justifiable proportion of the volume in a loaded box car or truck thereby reducing the net volume or weight of goods per shipment. Furthermore, the expense of shipping this type of pallet is considerable since it is shipped at the same rate as the commodity. A further disadvantage in these conventional platform pallets is the problem of returning the empties This has necessitated either a single shipment of the pallet followed by its destruction or adapting it to other uses on the part of the consignee unless returned to the shipper, which increases the cost of the original shipment.

Some attempts to overcome the above mentioned difficulties have been made in the form of pallets constructed of iiberboard or equivalent material. Numerous geometrical designs vfor these types of pallets have been devised in order to increase their resistance to crushing and their loading capacity. These types of pallets are characterized by one or two large, flat horizontal platforms, in common with the wooden or steel pallets described above, these being separated or supported by wooden or tiberboard spacers. While these innovations have resulted in decreasing-.the original cost of construction (i. e. materials and labor) and also in reducing the cost of shipment, these devices have not solved the problem of large loss of available shipping space in a box or truck.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a palleting device which is light in weight so that its transportation cost will be negligible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pallet device of novel design which will require only a minimum of available car space in shipment.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a novel palleting device whose cost will be such that the devices can be discarded after one yshipment but which is sufiiciently strong rendering it usable in more than one shipment.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a palleting device which have adequate strengths to handle all but extremely heavy loads.

2,801,065 Patented July 30, 1957 It is a further object of the invention to provide lightweight pallet devices made of liberboard or other` equivalent material which will have strengths `adequate to handle average loads.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel methods in thev handling of the`bagged .or otherwise packaged material.

According to our invention we contemplate the construction of a hollow, and normally Vsubstantially rigid triangular body hereinafter referred to as a sleeve which is adapted to permit entry of the lifting fork of a fork truck materials-handling device.

Despite their low cost and lightweight construction the triangular sleeves of this invention have adequate size and dimensions to accommodate lift forks and still have adequate resistance 'to lateral collapse and suicient strength and rigidity through the vertical ,or base side of the triangle to support loads normally placed on conventional wooden and steel pallets.

The essential features of our hollow, triangular sleeve palleting devices are as follows:

l. The sleeve must have one angle which is substantially a right angle.

2. The base side of the triangular sleeve must be shorter than the altitude side Vof the triangle. v

3. The adjacent sides of the triangular sleeve must be secured to each other so as to prevent lateral collapse upon loading with bagged material.

A preferred material of construction for our sleeve pallet is corrugated tiberboard, preferably 350 lb. test, double faced C flute corrugated-cardboard.

The invention will be further described in connection with accompanying drawings which illustrate the various features, modications and embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the novel sleeve pallet in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom or altitude side of our novel triangular sleeve pallet;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the sleeve pallet of Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of our novel sleeve pallet taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged View of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, more detailed view, in cross section, of the base or vertical side of our triangular sleeve pallet taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a composite assembly useful in practicing our novel method of palletizing bagged material.

Figure 8 is an end view, partly in cross section, taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end view, partly in cross section, illustrating a stack of bagged material palletized by means of our novel'sleeve palletizing device;

Figures l() through l5 are diagrammatic end views of several embodiments of our invention;

Figure 16 is a rear view of the embodiment of our invention along the line 16-16 of Figure l5;

Figure 17 is an enlarged View, partly in cross section, of a portion of Figure 1.5 along the line 17--17 of Figure l5;

The structures shown in Figures l to 5 comprise a materials-handling device constructed essentially from berboard sheet. In a preferred method of forming this embodiment of the invention, a corrugated berboard blank, or flat sheet, having a dimension of approximately 40" x 17" is properly folded several times to form a triangular sleeve which has a right angle and whose base or vertical side will have two courses or thicknesses of iiberboard. The blank is creased or scored perpendicular to the corrugated channels before folding in such a man ner' that the sides Vof the'na'l shaped sleeve will be approximately: base or vertical side 1%"; altitude' or horizontal side 6"; and the hypotenuse or bag-engaging side 'It will be` obvious that VYthe above 'dimensions may be varied,` to suit the conditions' such Yas the width and/or thickness of the fork of the' 1ift'truckthe length and -widthvof the bags or cartonsV to be placed upon the'sleeve,

'the load'to be placed Vupon the sleeve, etc.V Also the di- `mensions of the blank may be'enlarged toV provide a plurality of thicknesses or courses of'iberboard for the sides of the sleeve.'A The base/or short vertical side of the triangle will have at least two courses of iibe'rboard Yto provide the optimum in rigidityand resistance to crushning and'later'al collapse. The corrugation channels will extend laterally in the hypotenuse and altitude sides and @vertically in the base orV short side of the triangle. f YTlie triangular sleeve will .therefore consist of ashort .vertical or base side .21, hypotenuse side 20, Yand an alti- {tude or horizontal side 23. The angle between the base l and altitude'sides must be Vsubstantially a right angle A; angle B (herein referred to as the Vacute angle of the triangular sleeve) will be the angle formed by the altitude and Vhyp'oten'use sides of the sleeve; and angle C is formed ,bythe base or vertical side and the hypotenuse side of the sleeve. Figures 2 and 3 are shaded to show the di- .rection ofthe corrugated channels.

v Figures 3 to 6 illustrate one method for securing the adjacent sides Vof our novel triangular sleeve Vto each nother. along or near the longitudinal ends 20A or trail-l ingedges 21A to prevent lateral collapse of the sleeve upon loading. This consists of a series of staples V24 whichfasten together the two courses or thicknesses 2,2'

yand`22A of iiberboard which form the base or short vertical side'of the sleeve.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of Figure 4 and illustrates the above essential features, namely, the altitude orhorizontal side 23; the base or short vertical side 21 which must be shorter than the altitude side 23; the right angle A formed by sides 21 and 23; and lthe securing means to fasten together the adjacent sides of the sleeves, this being a stapling device 24.

.Figure 6 is an enlarged view, in cross section, showing Y the construction of the base or short vertical side 21 of v the embodiment in Figure 5 along the line 3 3 thereof. There is shown the double faced corrugated construction 25, the stapling means 24 securing the longitudinal ends A20A (2 2 and 22A) Vthe horizontal or altitudeside of .Y Vthesleeve 23 and the base or vertical side 21 which con- 50 sists of an inside course 22 and an outside course 22A of iiberboard. The figure further illustrates la preferred but not an absolutely essential feature of our' invention which is achieved-by bending a blank of'iiberboard'into the triangular shape herein described so asi toprovide a double course of iiberboard for the base or verticalV side ofthe sleeve, this being done in a manner such that the trailing edge21A of the outside course or thickness ofv the fiberboard on thebase side 21 is substantially ilush with the plane or outside face surface of the altitude or horizontal side of the sleeve. Shading between the double facing 25 indicates the direction of the interior corrugated channels.

Figures Yl through 14 are end views illustratingfur- Y 12 o'rl'the base, hypotenuse and 'altitude sides'of-the sleeve; in Figure 13 on the base and altitude sides-ofthe Y I sleeve; and in Figure 14 on Vthe altitude sideof the sleeve. Figure 15 is an'end view of a further embodiment of A' our'invention showing the preferred construction lincluding the altitude, base and hypotenuse sides 23, 21 an 20, respectively, with `a double course or thickness of berboard forming .the base or short vertical side 21.

. In this embodiment of the invention, the adjacent sides of the sleeves are secured by. stitching 34, through both courses of fiberboard 22 and 22A which form the base side 21. VThe embodiment illustrated in Figure 15 further illustrates schematically a reinforcing member 35 positioned in the acute angle B of the triangular sleeve Vand secured therein as by gluing, Vwhich member may be either Y a Vroll or conforming shape of corrugated berboard, a cardboard tube or rectangle, or any of the foregoing of wooden construction, and which runs substantially along the longitudinal length of the sleevegivingsupport to this section in the event that unusually heavy loads are to be placed upon it. Figure 16 is anend view of the embodiment shown in Figure l5 along the line 16-16 thereof showing the .base or short vertical side 21 of the triangle and the stitched securing means 34.V Figure 207V 17, taken alongtheline 17--17 of Figure 16, shows the corrugated'construction of the trailing edge 21A'oftl1e outside course 22A in cross section and the stitched base side21` in perspective'. Y

means other than stapling orV stitching to secure the longitudinal ends` 20A of the berboard blanks, including the two ormore courses of fiberboard forming the base f' side 2l of the triangularsleeve.y For example, we` may Aemploy4 adhesive as a securing means. When construc- 30. tion materials more rigidthan corrugated berboard are @employed the ends of the blanks need not be overlapped. As previously mentioned herein the dimensional details or ratio thereof Vof the sides of the triangular sleeve are somewhat flexible providing,`ofcourse, thatthelbase Vor vertical side 21 remain shorter than the altitude, or horizontal side 23 of the sleeve.` We havek foundY that 'the base or vertical side of the sleeve should be4 between 11/2" to about 21/2", such a construction being adaptable to most fork trucks andfvproviding at the same time Ymaximum resistance to lateral collapse and maximum, crush- A ing strength. The length of the sleeves will depend upon the dimensions of the bagged material to be loaded there- 45.*'will'r'1ot protrude beyond the overlying bags or containers in order to avoidany possible damage to the bags caused i by jostling during transit. l

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a preferred method of carrying out our novel palleting operation. Figure k7 is a plan view of an arrangement including'a template platform j designated generally as 26 having guide membersor cleats 28 in which are placed our novel triangular sleeve pallet Ydevice shown generally as 40. Figure 8 is a cross secw tional view ofFigure 7 along the line 8 8 thereof show- `V ing-a stage or platform consisting of wooden plank members 27 separated by wooden spacers 30 and having 4superimposed upon the upper surfacerwooden guide Vmembers or cleats 28 which run the length, ofthe platform defin- .ing slots or guidingrgrooves 36 whose width and height 50. are slightly greater than base andaltitude sides of the triangular sleeve pallets. The guide members V28 are securedto the platform by means of boltsor screws 29. uThe template platform is placed beneath or adjacent to the bagging device. As the bags are loadedk and sealed .g5YV (as by stitching, gluing or tying) theyY are placed lengthwise transversely across the sleeve pallets which are posi- Ytioned in the grooves 36 with sucient overlap of the sleeves bythe ends of the bags so as to prevent the bags vfrom falling through the intervening space between the sleeves when they are lifted from ,the grooves 36 by means of the forks 32 of a lift truck. It will be noted that the grooves of the template platform are positioned to permit vthe aforementioned overlapping ofthese grooves by the 'bag's..' The distance between thev sleeve pallets, which are arranged with their acute angles oppositely Vand in parallel Our invention further contemplates the embodiment ofV on. Preferably, the length will besuch that the sleeves Y disposed, can be readily determined by a reasonably skilled operator.

Figure 8 illustrates a stack of bagged material 31 which has been fork truck-lifted by means of our novel sleeve pallets from the grooves 36 of the template platform 26 and placed upon the lioor 33 of a warehouse or box car.

t may be said that in subsequent lifting operations the floor actually becomes a part of the overall pallet which includes the triangular sleeve members 40. The surface of the bottom bag of the stack rests against the oor area between the sleeves and on the horizontal side therefore.

We have found that sleeves constructed of 350 lb. test corrugated double-faced berboard in a manner illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 can support a load of 1000 lbs. and that when several stacks of bagged material are properly placed in a box car so as to prevent substantial shifting in transit, it is possible to unload the palletized load at its destination by means of a lift truck.

When the sleeve pallets of this invention are to be exposed to adverse conditions, it is sometimes advisable to treat the liberboard or other cellulosic blanks or sleeves with certain chemicals or solutions which will render them water-proof, water repellent or resistant to rotting. Our invention therefore contemplates the impregnation of the berboard with water repellent materials including oily or resinous solutions and synthetic and inorganic silicates such as water glass, solution of asphaltic or other bituminous materials, etc. or insolubilized glues. It is also in the scope of our invention to place paper sheeting or other webbing material such as canvas, burlap, etc. across or between the novel sleeve pallets to avoid having to place the bags or cartons to be palletized directly upon the floor or loading platform. This embodiment is not illustrated in the attached drawings but the web can be either merely laid between the sleeves and across them; alternatively the webbing may be laid across the sleeves and looped about them thereby resulting in an insidereinforced loop which is adapted to receive the forks of a lift truck. This is an obvious expedient and does not form an essential feature of the present invention. This feature subtracts very little from the available space in a box car or truck in which the palletized bags or cartons will be placed.

This application is a continuation of our co-pending application, Serial No. 288,502 tiled May 17, 1952 for Materials-Handling Device, now abandoned.

Having thus exemplified our invention, but without necessarily being limited to the specic embodiments herein disclosed, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable berboard materials-handling device adapted for use in lift truck palleting operations com'- prising a hollow, triangular sleeve wherein one angle is substantially a right angle, the base of said triangular sleeve being shorter than its altitude, said sleeve being constructed of corrugated berboard bent into the aforesaid shape, the corrugation channels runnings laterally in the hypotenuse and altitude sides and vertically in the base side of the triangle, and providing at least two mutually secured courses of berboard for the base side of the sleeve, said construction making the sleeve substantially rigid and resistant to lateral collapse under load.

2. A portable tiberboard materials-handling device adapted for use in lift truck palleting operations comprising a hollow, substantially rigid triangular sleeve wherein one angle is substantially a right angle, the base of said triangular sleeve being shorter than its altitude, said sleeve being constructed of corrugated liberboard bent into the aforesaid shape so as to provide a double course of iiberboard for the base side ofthe sleeve, the corrugation channels running laterally in the hypotenuse and altitude sides of the sleeve, said double course comprising the base side of the sleeve being mutually secured, said construction making the sleeve substantially rigid and resistant to lateral collapse under load.

3. A device according to claim l wherein the courses of corrugated iiberboard which form the base side of the sleeve are secured by stapling.

4. A portable berboard materials-handling device adapted for use in lift truck palleting operations comprising a hollow, triangular sleeve wherein one angle is substantially a right angle, the base of said triangular sleeve being shorter than its altitude, said sleeve being constructed of corrugated tiberboard bent into the aforesaid shape, the corrugation channels running laterally in the hypotenuse and altitude sides and vertically in the base side of the triangle, and providing at least two mutually secured courses of berboard for the base side of the sleeve and a reinforcing member in the angle formed by the altitude and hypotenuse sides, said construction making the sleeve substantially rigid and resistant to lateral collapse under load.

5. A portable fiberboard materials-handling device adapted for use in lift truck palleting operations comprising a hollow, triangular sleeve wherein one angle is substantially a right angle, the base of said triangular sleeve being shorter than its altitude, said sleeve being constructed of corrugated fiberboard bent into the aforesaid shape, the corrugation channels running laterally in the hypotenuse and altitude sides and vertically in the base side of the triangle, and providing at least two mutually secured courses of fberboard for the base side of the sleeve and a reinforcing member secured in the angle formed by the altitude and hypotenuse sides, said construction making the sleeve substantially rigid and resistant to lateral collapse under load.

6. A device according to claim l wherein the courses of corrugated berboard which form the base side of the sleeve are secured by adhesive.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,393 Dorsey May l3, 1947 2,503,240 Cahners Apr. 11, 1950 2,506,346 Crawford May 2, 1950 2,507,757 Bowman et al. Oct. 9, 1951 2,609,136 Sider Sept. 2, 1952 

